Gustavs Zemgals
Encyclopedia
Gustavs Zemgals was a Latvia
n politician and the second President of Latvia
.
Zemgals was born in Džūkste, Latvia. He attended elementary school in a small parish
of Saka, and later continued education in Riga
Nikolai Gymansium. He graduated from Moscow University in 1899 with a degree in law
. He then returned to Latvia
and was a lawyer, a newspaper editor and a political activist.
In 1904, during the Russo-Japanese War
, Zemgals was mobilised and sent to the front, where he spent a year and a half and was promoted to the rank of captain.
After his return to Latvia in 1905, Zemgals became one of the creators of a new liberal newspaper "Jaunā Dienas Lapa" (New Day's Page) and proceeded to become an editor of this paper. He was also an editor in the newspaper that succeeded "Jaunā Dienas Lapa" -"Mūsu Laiki" (Our Times). In July 1907, the Riga district court
sentenced Zemgals to a three months long arrest for his work at "Mūsu Laiki". Soon after that, Zemgals created the Latvian democratic party together with some other political activities. In the time period between 1912 and 1914 Zemgals also worked on a magazine "Domas" (Thoughts).
When World War I
began, Zemgals was once again mobilised and initially assigned to an infantry division in the middle part of Latvia, but later he was sent to Finland
. After his return to Riga, Zemgals was elected as the chairman of the city on April 23, 1917. In autumn 1917 the Riga Temporary Council repeatedly elected Zemgals as the chairman of the city. At this time, he was active in the Latvian radical-democratic party.
From 1918, Zemgals became active in the Latvian Temporary National Council, where he worked on matters related to occupied Latvian territories. As a member of the Latvian radical-democratic party, he became the second deputy of the chairman of Tautas Padome
(People's Council), a representative body (council) of Latvian political parties and organizations. Holding this office, he chaired the November 18, 1918 meeting of Tautas Padome, which declared the independence
of Latvia. On December 3, 1918 he was elected as the chair of Riga City Council.
When the bolsheviks were gaining power and approaching Latvia, the Tautas Padome sent Jānis Čakste
and Zemgals abroad to represent Latvian interests. Cakste, Zemgals and several other people from the government went to Copenhagen
on a British warship, but Zemgals returned to Latvia just two months later, where he tried to restore the Tautas Padome, but Zemgals along with a group of loyal politicians was arrested by the German army.
Later, he was a member of Latvian parliament
(Saeima
) from the Democratic Center Party (Demokratiska Centra Partija) and a minister in several governments. In 1927, after the death of Jānis Čakste
he was elected the president
of Latvia. As the president, he interfered very little with the Saeima's work on laws, only returning a law for review to the Saeima once, but Zemgals used his rights to grant amnesty
a lot. During his time as president, Zemgals granted amnesty to 648 persons, 172 of which received complete amnesty. He served as president until 1930, when his term expired, and he refused to run for a second term, despite having been asked by many to do so.
After his presidency ended, Zemgals continued his political activities and was elected in the fourth Saeima where he was a member of the foreign and finance, trade and industry commissions. In 1931 and 1932 he was also the Minister of Finances.
In 1926, Zemgals was awarded the Three Star Order (the highest Latvian national award), class 3 (class 3 being the lowest and class 1 the highest). In 1929, he was awarded the Three Star Order, class 1.
During the thirties, Zemgals published articles in the newspaper "Jaunākās Ziņas" (Latest News).
On January 6, 1939 Zemgals died and was buried in Riga. In 1990, a monument to Zemgals was constructed in Džūkste, place of his birth.
Latvia
Latvia , officially the Republic of Latvia , is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by Estonia , to the south by Lithuania , to the east by the Russian Federation , to the southeast by Belarus and shares maritime borders to the west with Sweden...
n politician and the second President of Latvia
Latvia
Latvia , officially the Republic of Latvia , is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by Estonia , to the south by Lithuania , to the east by the Russian Federation , to the southeast by Belarus and shares maritime borders to the west with Sweden...
.
Zemgals was born in Džūkste, Latvia. He attended elementary school in a small parish
Parish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
of Saka, and later continued education in Riga
Riga
Riga is the capital and largest city of Latvia. With 702,891 inhabitants Riga is the largest city of the Baltic states, one of the largest cities in Northern Europe and home to more than one third of Latvia's population. The city is an important seaport and a major industrial, commercial,...
Nikolai Gymansium. He graduated from Moscow University in 1899 with a degree in law
Law
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
. He then returned to Latvia
Latvia
Latvia , officially the Republic of Latvia , is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by Estonia , to the south by Lithuania , to the east by the Russian Federation , to the southeast by Belarus and shares maritime borders to the west with Sweden...
and was a lawyer, a newspaper editor and a political activist.
In 1904, during the Russo-Japanese War
Russo-Japanese War
The Russo-Japanese War was "the first great war of the 20th century." It grew out of rival imperial ambitions of the Russian Empire and Japanese Empire over Manchuria and Korea...
, Zemgals was mobilised and sent to the front, where he spent a year and a half and was promoted to the rank of captain.
After his return to Latvia in 1905, Zemgals became one of the creators of a new liberal newspaper "Jaunā Dienas Lapa" (New Day's Page) and proceeded to become an editor of this paper. He was also an editor in the newspaper that succeeded "Jaunā Dienas Lapa" -"Mūsu Laiki" (Our Times). In July 1907, the Riga district court
Court
A court is a form of tribunal, often a governmental institution, with the authority to adjudicate legal disputes between parties and carry out the administration of justice in civil, criminal, and administrative matters in accordance with the rule of law...
sentenced Zemgals to a three months long arrest for his work at "Mūsu Laiki". Soon after that, Zemgals created the Latvian democratic party together with some other political activities. In the time period between 1912 and 1914 Zemgals also worked on a magazine "Domas" (Thoughts).
When World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
began, Zemgals was once again mobilised and initially assigned to an infantry division in the middle part of Latvia, but later he was sent to Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
. After his return to Riga, Zemgals was elected as the chairman of the city on April 23, 1917. In autumn 1917 the Riga Temporary Council repeatedly elected Zemgals as the chairman of the city. At this time, he was active in the Latvian radical-democratic party.
From 1918, Zemgals became active in the Latvian Temporary National Council, where he worked on matters related to occupied Latvian territories. As a member of the Latvian radical-democratic party, he became the second deputy of the chairman of Tautas Padome
Tautas Padome
Tautas padome or People's Council of Latvia was a temporary council which declared Latvia's independence in 1918 and then acted as a temporary parliament until a Constitutional Assembly was elected....
(People's Council), a representative body (council) of Latvian political parties and organizations. Holding this office, he chaired the November 18, 1918 meeting of Tautas Padome, which declared the independence
Independence
Independence is a condition of a nation, country, or state in which its residents and population, or some portion thereof, exercise self-government, and usually sovereignty, over its territory....
of Latvia. On December 3, 1918 he was elected as the chair of Riga City Council.
When the bolsheviks were gaining power and approaching Latvia, the Tautas Padome sent Jānis Čakste
Janis Cakste
Jānis Čakste was a Latvian politician and lawyer who served as the first head of independent Latvian state as the Chairman of Tautas Padome , the Speaker of the Constitutional Assembly , and as the first President of Latvia .- Youth :Čakste was born in the...
and Zemgals abroad to represent Latvian interests. Cakste, Zemgals and several other people from the government went to Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
on a British warship, but Zemgals returned to Latvia just two months later, where he tried to restore the Tautas Padome, but Zemgals along with a group of loyal politicians was arrested by the German army.
Later, he was a member of Latvian parliament
Parliament
A parliament is a legislature, especially in those countries whose system of government is based on the Westminster system modeled after that of the United Kingdom. The name is derived from the French , the action of parler : a parlement is a discussion. The term came to mean a meeting at which...
(Saeima
Saeima
Saeima is the parliament of the Republic of Latvia. It is a unicameral parliament consisting of 100 members who are elected by proportional representation, with seats allocated to political parties which gain at least 5% of the popular vote. Elections are scheduled to be held once every four years,...
) from the Democratic Center Party (Demokratiska Centra Partija) and a minister in several governments. In 1927, after the death of Jānis Čakste
Janis Cakste
Jānis Čakste was a Latvian politician and lawyer who served as the first head of independent Latvian state as the Chairman of Tautas Padome , the Speaker of the Constitutional Assembly , and as the first President of Latvia .- Youth :Čakste was born in the...
he was elected the president
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
of Latvia. As the president, he interfered very little with the Saeima's work on laws, only returning a law for review to the Saeima once, but Zemgals used his rights to grant amnesty
Amnesty
Amnesty is a legislative or executive act by which a state restores those who may have been guilty of an offense against it to the positions of innocent people, without changing the laws defining the offense. It includes more than pardon, in as much as it obliterates all legal remembrance of the...
a lot. During his time as president, Zemgals granted amnesty to 648 persons, 172 of which received complete amnesty. He served as president until 1930, when his term expired, and he refused to run for a second term, despite having been asked by many to do so.
After his presidency ended, Zemgals continued his political activities and was elected in the fourth Saeima where he was a member of the foreign and finance, trade and industry commissions. In 1931 and 1932 he was also the Minister of Finances.
In 1926, Zemgals was awarded the Three Star Order (the highest Latvian national award), class 3 (class 3 being the lowest and class 1 the highest). In 1929, he was awarded the Three Star Order, class 1.
During the thirties, Zemgals published articles in the newspaper "Jaunākās Ziņas" (Latest News).
On January 6, 1939 Zemgals died and was buried in Riga. In 1990, a monument to Zemgals was constructed in Džūkste, place of his birth.
External links
- Gustavs Zemgals – biography in Latvian